This week’s offerings are a little bit fruity and a little bit fun.  We’re transforming twice baked spuds, to keep all the taste but to take away some of the fat and calories.  Did you know, contrary to popular opinion, the majority of nutrients are not found in the skin, but in the potato itself?  I’ve also taken some of your great suggestions from the giveaway comments and added a few small changes this week.  Some of the recipes now have a “Make it Simpler” option, which provides short cuts for making the meals even faster.  Also, for vegetarians, I’ve got two recipes this week that either are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian. Lastly, I’ll continue to include at least one recipe a week that is ultra kid friendly, but still healthy and easy.  Remember, the more you involve your kids in the preparation of food, the more interested they will become in eating it.

Day 1- Turkey Sausage Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

8 Idaho Potatoes

Olive Oil

Reduced fat Roll Sausage, Turkey Crumbles, Turkey Sausage or meatless crumbles (like morningstar)

Skim or Low-Fat Milk

Butter

Onions (or Chives)

Shredded low-fat Cheddar Cheese

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425° F. Pierce 8 potatoes with a fork several times and rub potato skins with olive oil. Bake potatoes directly on the middle oven rack for 50 – 60 minutes or until they are slightly soft. While the potatoes are baking, cook 12 oz of turkey sausage (You can sub in the Jimmy Dean Turkey crumbles, just follow the pkg prep directions OR use the low-fat roll sausage) . Drain the sausage, crumble it and set aside. While potatoes are still hot (use oven mitt to hold potato), cut them in half lengthwise. Scoop out the interior flesh of the potato into a medium-sized bowl, leaving a shell about 1/4-inch thick all around. Using a potato masher, mash the potato flesh. In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat 1 1/4 cup skim/low-fat milk until hot but not boiling. Add milk to potato a little at a time, mashing it together each time. Mix in 1/4 cup unsalted butter and mash all until smooth. Add 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/4 cup chives or onions(optional) and mix together thoroughly. Stir in 8oz shredded low- fat cheddar cheese and turkey sausage. Turn oven to 400° F. Fill the potato shells with the potato mixture until it rounds above the potato. Place filled potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until hot. This will make a total of 16 potato halves, which is far beyond 4 servings.  Store leftovers in an airtight container and  use for lunches later in the week.

Day 2 – Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

2 – 3 breasts of chicken, cooked and cubed

1 package cole slaw (one that has cabbage and carrots is the best)

4 green onions, chopped (optional, I usually leave this out)

2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 package Ramen noodles (chicken flavor)

Dressing:
2 Tbsp Sugar

2 Tbsp Vinegar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 pack of flavoring from the ramen noodles

Preparation:

Chicken should be prepared ahead of time, you can grill it or bake it (or buy the pre-cooked frozen kind I mentioned above).  Once the chicken is prepared. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the sesame seeds, almonds and crushed up ramen noodles (I usually just put them in a ziploc bag and pound on them with the back of  spoon) on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes until slightly browned.  While that mixture is baking, mix up the dressing by combing the sugar, vinegar, oil and ramen noodle flavoring in a bowl and whisking together.  Place the cole slaw in a large bowl, mix in the dressing and the chicken, then add in the baked sesame seeds, almonds and noodles. Serve right away or it can be placed in the fridge and served cold, it’s almost better that way, so this is a dish you can prepare ahead if you want.  I will also often double it, serving it one night for dinner and then using it for lunches during the rest of the week.  Serve with fresh watermelon slices.

Make it Simpler: You can often find pre-cooked cubed frozen chicken in the freezer dept, this can hurry up the recipe for you quite a bit. Just defrost in the microwave, once it’s almost fully defrosted drizzle a little olive oil on it and even some garlic powder and cook for 1 -2 minutes until warm.

Day 3 – Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Ingredients:

1 sm. onion (red onions work best, but any is fine)

1  c. sugar

1 tsp. dry mustard

2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. vinegar

2 cups canola oil

2 tsp. poppy seed

1 cup sliced up strawberries

2 Tbsp slivered almonds

Preparation:

Place onion in blender and chop. Add sugar, dry mustard, salt and vinegar to onion; blend well. Add salad oil a small amount at a time and blend well after each addition. Pour into jar or container and add poppy seed. Refrigerate. Shake well before pouring over fresh spinach, sliced strawberries and almonds. Serve with whole grain bread or a baguette.
(Note:  If you feel like you need to make this dish a bit more substantial you can add grilled chicken strips or even salmon)

Make it Simpler: Several brands make poppyseed dressing you can buy in the store.  The homemade version will be better for you, so don’t drown your salad in it.

Day 4 – Pineapple BBQ Chicken
(A Dole pineapple recipe )

Ingredients:

1 small fresh Pineapple

3 tablespoons bottled barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Preparations:

Twist crown from pineapple. Cut pineapple lengthwise in quarters. Cut fruit from shells with knife, trim off core. Cut half the fruit into chunks and the remaining fruit into 6 spears. Finely chop pineapple chunks in food processor or blender. Stir in barbecue sauce, syrup, Worcestershire, garlic, salt, allspice and pepper, until mixed. Arrange chicken on broiler pan. Spoon sauce over chicken. Broil 6 inches from heat source 5 minutes. Add pineapple spears to pan. Spoon sauce over pineapple spears. Broil 20 to 22 minutes longer. Serve with a side of green beans, fresh or frozen.

Make it Simpler: Use a bottled plain BBQ sauce and just mix that with the pineapple in a blender!

Day 5 – Make it Your Own Muffin Pizza

Ingredients:

1 package whole wheat English Muffins

2 cups pasta sauce your choice

2 cups low-fat/part skim shredded mozzarella cheese

Choose from the following Toppings:
- Use leftovers from meals earlier in the week: turkey crumbles, pineapple, onions, chicken
-  Veggies such as chopped spinach, broccoli, or peppers
- Get fancy, try pesto in place of the pasta sauce or use different types of cheese

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Split the English Muffins in half and place on a baking sheet.  Cover each half with about 1 Tbsp of sauce (go light or you’ll end up with mushy muffins).  Next select your toppings and place evenly across the half.  Finally sprinkle with a small handful (about 2 Tbsp) of cheese.  Bake in the over for 10 minutes until cheese is hot and slightly browned.   Serve with a small fruit salad or even a side of salad greens with a balsamic vinegar dressing.

Kid Friendly Tip: Consider chopping up several vegetable options and placing them in small bowls.  Let your kids help assemble the pizzas including the toppings.  Encourage them to create artful muffin masterpieces. To get the color, they’ll have to use the veggies. Often they are so pleased with their creations, they’ll eat every bite (veggies included).

Grocery List:

Idaho Potatoes, 5 lb, $2.99

Olive Oil, $5.99 (avg price)
$1/1 Filippo Berio Olive Oil Rolling
$1/1 Filippo Berio Olive Oil (IE) Rolling Printable (FF)
$1/1 California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil 12/5/2010 SS Insert (exp 6/30/2011)
$1/1 Olivari Mediterranean Olive Oil All You Apr 2011 (exp 6/30/2011)
$1/1 Crisco Olive Oil 4/17/2011 RP Insert (exp 7/31/2011)
1$/1 Filippo Berio Olive Oil Upromise eCoupons (exp 9/30/2011)

Jimmy Dean Reduced fat Roll Sausage or Turkey Crumbles, 9.6 to 16 oz, 2/$7
-$0.75/1 Jimmy Dean Fully Cooked Product 3/6/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/31/2011)
-$0.55/1 Jimmy Dean Roll Sausage Rolling
-$1/1 Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles Rolling

Skim or Low-Fat Milk, $3.69 (avg price)
$1.50/1 Smart Balance Milks 6/5/2011 SS Insert (exp 7/20/2011)
$1/1 Smart Balance Milk Rolling
$1/1 Stonyfield Organic Milk Rolling
$0.55/1 Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Half Gallon Rolling
$1.50 off milk wyb 2 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Grahams peelie (esp 6/30/2011)
You would have to act fast to redeem this one, but would be great with the $10 for 10 goldfish sale this week

Publix Sweet Cream Butter, 16 oz, 2/$6

2 Vidalia Sweet Onions, .79/lb (or Chives)

Kraft  Shredded Low-Fat Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese, 7 or 8 oz, 2/$4
-$1/1 Kraft Natural Slices WYB Kraft Shredded Cheese 6/19/2011 SS Insert (exp 7/24/2011)
-$1/2 Kraft Cheese Items Target Coupon

Dole Cole Slaw (one that has cabbage and carrots is the best), 16 oz,  $2.29
$0.50/1 Dole Coleslaw Kit Target.com (exp 7/5/2011)
$0.50/1 Dole Coleslaw Kit (exp 7/5/2011)

4 Green Onions, 1 ct, $.60

Sesame Seeds, 3.75 oz, $3.09

Blue Diamond Slivered Almonds, 8 oz, $5.99
$0.60/2 Blue Diamond Almonds 4/3/2011 SS Insert (exp 7/31/2011)
0.60/2 Blue Diamond Almonds 6/26/2011 SS Insert (exp9/30/2011)

Ramen noodles (chicken flavor), 3 oz, $.22

Domino Premium Granulated Sugar, 5 lb., $3.35
$0.75/2 Domino Sugar Products 5/22/2011 RP Insert (exp 7/31/2011)
$0.40/1 Domino Sugar Product Family Circle Apr 2011 (exp 6/30/2011)
$0.55/1 Dixie Crystals Sugar Publix Smart Savings Booklet 6/26/2011 (exp 7/18/2011)
0.50/1 C&H Granulated Sugar Product 6/26/2011 RP Insert (exp 9/30/2011)

Heinz Distilled White Vinegar, 16 oz, $1.29
$1/2 Heinz Vinegar 6/26/2011 SS Insert (exp 8/31/2011)
$1/1 Heinz White or Cidar Vinegar Upromise eCoupons (exp 6/30/2011)
$1/1 Regina Vinegar Rolling

Crisco Canola oil, 16 oz, $2.59

Del Monte Gold Pineapple, 2/$4
-$1.50/2 Del Monte Gold Pineapple Coupons.com printable

Maple Syrup, 12 oz, $2.69
$1/1 Maple Grove Farms Dressing, Syrup, Pancake Rolling
$1/1 Hungry Jack Pancake Mix or Syrup 5/22/2011 RP Insert (exp 7/30/2011)

Worcestershire Sauce, 15 oz, $1.85
$.75/1 French’s Worcestershire Sauce 5/15/2011 SS Insert (exp 8/15/2011)
$1/1 Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce or Marinad Rolling

Publix Fresh  garlic, 2 cloves minced, whole, $1.03

Morton Salt, 26 oz, $.53

Ground Allspice, 2 oz, $1.59

Cayenne pepper, 1.75 oz, $1.59

Red Seedless Watermelon, $4.99
-FREE Minute Maid and Nestle tea 2-liter WYB any watermelon hangtag

Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables, 7.5 to 32 oz (including all varieties), 50% off

California Strawberries, 16 oz, 2/$4

6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, $2.99/lb
OR Publix GreenWise Market Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, $4.99

Fresh Express Salad Blends, 5 to 12 oz bag, BOGO Surprisingly Low Price (likely $3.99)
-$0.50/1 Fresh Express Blends Or Tender Leaves – Coupons.com (no longer available – check your binders!)
-$1/2 Fresh Express $1 off any 2 packaged salad mix tearpad (exp 12/31/2011)
-$1/2 Fresh Express Publix Coupon peelie found on vidalia onions (exp 6/30/11)

Thomas’ English Muffins or Hearty Muffins, 11 to 13 oz pkg, BOGO $3.89

Bertolli Pasta Sauce, 15 or 24 oz jar (excluding organics) BOGO $2.65
-$1/2 Bertolli Pasta Sauce TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 7/9/2011)

Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, 18 oz bot, BOGO $2.35
-$1/2 Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce 5/22/2011 SS Insert (exp 6/30/2011)
-$1/3 Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce 5/22/2011 SS Insert (exp 6/30/2011)

Italian Five Grain Bread, $2.89

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